BRACKEN, John William
| Service Numbers: | 423608, N172773, 172773 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 7 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 10 October 1923 |
| Home Town: | Lismore, Lismore Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Aircraft accident, Higgins Field, Queensland, Australia, Cape York, Queensland, Australia, 2 July 1944, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland, Australia E.D.12., |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 423608 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N172773 | |
| 18 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), Aircrew Training Units | |
| 18 Jul 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 423608 | |
| 18 Jul 1942: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 172773 | |
| 2 Jul 1944: | Involvement Pilot Officer, No. 7 Squadron (RAAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Beaufort A9-377 of Number 7 Squadron crashed 2 miles east of Higgins Field - the aircraft dived into the ground at a sharp angle from about 300 feet, having completed a normal turn down wind after take-off. The aircraft had been delivered to the RAAF in July 1943. All crew were killed in the loss:
Flight Sergeant John William Bracken - Pilot (423608) - Son of Richard Thomas Bracken and Agnes Elizabeth Bracken of Roseville, NSW
Flight Sergeant Andrew Frank (427618) - Son of Joseph Henry and Alice Frank & Husband of Eva Grace Frank of Narrogin, WA
Flying Officer Thomas Albert Charles Daymond (429762) - Son of William Albert and Evelyn May Daymond of Kalgoorlie, WA
Flight Sergeant Lionel Ernest James Parkes (413323) - Son of Ernest Stanmore Parkes and Anorah Marcella Parkes of Armidale, NSW
Higgins Field, previously known as Jacky Jacky and sometimes called Red Point, was located near the tip of Cape York Peninsula. On 3 June 1943, Lieutenant General Kenney renamed it Higgins Field in honour of Flight Lieutenant Brian Hartley Higgins 400620, killed on air operations on 25 May 1943.
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